Jaysel Shah

AP Biology

Article Essay

1/13/10

Origins of the Left & Right Brain

By

Peter F. MacNeilage, Lesley J. Rogers,

and Giorgio Vallortigara
 Since the beginnings of neuroscience, the vast complexities of the

brain have confounded scientists, presenting inexplicable obscurities. This

field of biology is recently becoming more and more intertwined with the

study of evolution and descent with modification. Older beliefs and

standards are continuously being replaced by the new discoveries that are

being made. It was previously thought that only humans possessed brain

hemisphere specialization. Now scientists are revealing more and more

about the minds of other animals, and how their sense of cognition differs

from that of humans. Groundbreaking evidence about the specific roles of

each of the brain’s hemispheres yields information about the evolution of the

mind and its primitive origins. The authors of this article make claims and
hypotheses about the possible functions of each of the hemispheres and how

other animals exhibit similar behavioral traits.

The authors’ first hypothesis is that the left hemisphere of the brain

controls routine and internally directed behaviors. This side of the brain is

the origin of commands linked to habitual actions like eating. It is well known

that each brain hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. The

authors provide several examples of right-handedness in other animals.

One example of one-sided domination is the tendency of fishes, reptiles, and

toads to strike at prey on their right under the guidance of their right and left

hemisphere. The right eye guides actions such as food capture and pecking.

This rightward bias has led to anatomical differences in these animals. The

beaks of some birds slope to the right so the beak can guide the eye to prey.

Most whales that were examined had abrasions on the right jaw. These

findings are clear evidence that whale prefer one side of the jaw for food

gathering, in this case, the right. Further studies showed that this right-

handedness is present in closer relatives to humans as well. In a controlled

experiment, apes had to retrieve honey from inside a tube that was hung

from the ceiling. In most cases the apes utilized their right hand. All of

this evidence supports the hypothesis that the left hemisphere controls

habitual routines.

The scientists’ second hypothesis states that the right hemisphere of

the brain controls the response to unexpected stimuli. Opposed the left
hemisphere’s function??, the right hemisphere deals only with on the spot

decision-making etc. These researchers gathered evidence from findings of

several studies of certain animal’s response to predators. The animals in the

study reacted with more surprise when they saw the predators with their left

eye than their right. Other studies show that people respond to unexpected

stimuli with their left hand faster than their right hand. Other claims include

that the right hemisphere is responsible for face recognition. Many animals

including sheep, fish, and frogs are able to recognize other members of their

species utilizing the right hemisphere. This evidence supports the validity of

the authors’ claims about the functions of the right hemisphere of the brain.

The studies conducted in this article utilize effective research methods.

In the experiments administered, there was always a variable group??

(experimental?) and a control group that the variable group could be

compared to. Also, they conducted experiments in which these animals

were not harmed. They all involved simple tasks like acquiring food. The

researchers cited their sources and noted in the text from where they got the

information.

This kind of groundbreaking work has many societal, ethical, and

scientific implications. It is changing the way humans perceive the animal

mind. It was previously thought that only humans could use tools and

communicate. Learning about specific brain functions unlocks the

capabilities of not only the human brain but also those of different animals.
Now it is known in the scientific world that animals exhibit some of the same

traits as humans such as one-handed dominance. A better understanding of

the animal mind may also prompt the change of some animal rights laws.

Comprehension of the complex human brain may lead us closer to finding

treatments and cures to certain psychological diseases such as depression

and Alzheimer’s’.

The findings of these studies will have profound effects on science. It

will lead to advancements in medicine, especially neurology. It will also help

us understand more about evolution and how it affected cognition.

Personally, I enjoyed reading this article very much. It contained amazing

facts about the minds of animals and even humans. I learned new things

about right-handedness and how it evolved from the ancestors of humans. I

feel it will affect the scientific world significantly and prompt new research on

the brain. Unlocking secrets of the brain like this are steps to completely

understanding the body’s most complicated organ.

The roles of each of the hemispheres of the brain are similar in a

variety of animals. They present themselves in a parallel fashion in frogs

and apes alike. New evidence is reshaping older beliefs about the animal

mind. These revolutionary advancements will lead to further understanding

of neuroscience and biology in its entirety.